From April 3 to 13, 2017, the Latvian National Armed Forces (NAF) Land Force Infantry Brigade Tactical Air Control Party (TACP) ran the annual qualification development course for both certified Joint Terminal Attack Controllers (JTACs) and candidates for this position. The participants of this theoretical course were JTACs and soldiers from Latvian, Lithuanian, Estonian and Polish TACPs.

The participants of the conversation:
Major Armands Rutkis, TACP commander of the Latvian Land Force Infantry Brigade Combat Support Battalion,
Major Bartley J. Ward, US National Guard Air Force Security officer of the 127th Squadron,
Master Sergeant Rick Boyer, Michigan National Guard Air Force JTAC,
Major Andre Sprauve, pilot of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) MQ-9.

- How was the establishment of the JTAC training program initiated? How much has been accomplished so far?

Maj A. Rutkis: The work on training JTACs in Latvia began in 2008, when NAF soldiers were being prepared for an international operation in Afghanistan together with the State of Michigan Operational cooperation advisors’ unit. Since 2008 soldiers from our unit have attended a course in Naval strike and Air Warfare Center in order to obtain the necessary knowledge and receive JTAC’s qualification and certificates.
In 2010 NAF Land Force Combat Support Battalion was formed, and since then we have our own combat-capable Tactical Air Control Party. During the years, we have participated in international military exercises and operations of various scale, and gained invaluable experience and knowledge, as well as proved ourselves to our foreign colleagues. We are working on extending our knowledge and experience to the battalion and brigade level. We pay most attention to improving our interoperability while working with multinational forces. It is not possible for JTACs to maintain their skills at the required level in Latvia, because there is no aviation that could provide the support necessary for our training. For this reason, to maintain and upgrade the qualification and the level of professionalism aircraft platforms should be involved in training in Latvia or we should travel to the US or NATO member countries in Europe.

— National Defence Academy of Latvia organizes annual training and certification course for these specialists.

Maj A. Rutkis: Yes, this course takes place once a year and is mandatory for our JTACs qualification maintenance. One week of the course is devoted to theoretical training, which includes the necessary theoretical knowledge that JTACs need. Theoretical training is followed by a test where a minimum pass rate is 80%. Two days are spent on practical training. This course also aims at experienced JTACs, since, as they say, repetition is the mother of knowledge. During the course participants revise all the topics and requirements that we must be familiar with in our daily job. At present, they are learning brigade-level TACP planning process.

Maj B. Ward: This course provides knowledge that is necessary for a soldier to become a JTAC. It means there are certain tasks that the attendees of the course have to carry out – some of them can be completed during classes indoors, some - during practice. This training aims at refreshing JTACs’ academic knowledge, similarly like I, as a military pilot, have to pass a flying test every year. Annual theoretical knowledge tests for JTACs include anything from basic doctrines and theory to their practical application. That means JTACs have to acquire new capabilities, new methods and new battle procedures so that they could put the newly-gained knowledge into practice during the training course. Moreover, this knowledge, as well as the skill of using it, ensures JTACs’ success, proving their interoperability all over the world. This course has to be seen as a training course for JTACs from the Baltic States, and it confirms that Latvian JTACs’ program is really in the lead. We, the instructors of this course from the US, are here only as consultants to assist you. I am a cooperation officer-instructor. But our instructors preparing future JTACs already work with soldiers from your TACPs and share their knowledge and offer advice regarding the training organized by our Latvian partners. Your soldiers from TACP under Maj Armands Rutkis command are a perfect example – they offer to acquire the same knowledge that we offer in the US, in Latvia. Here we can see a perfect example for a joint NATO or multinational training.

— So, in your opinion, are soldiers from the Latvian TACP strong enough to work as consultants in other countries?

Maj B. Ward: Definitely, because your men are already in a leader’s position.

— How do you see the cooperation between the US and Latvia in this field?

Maj B Ward: I am a pilot and I often happen to be both in Latvia and the US. I will continue being in charge of organizing practical training for Latvian JTACs in the US. JTACs obtain the necessary theoretical knowledge in classes in Latvia, and afterwards they travel to the US to apply the knowledge to practice – perform the required number of aircraft control practices, experience dropping certain number of bombs and firing certain number of bullets, i.e., complete various requirements that are on the list of the most important tasks to be performed by a specialist in this profession. Of course, apart from practical training, it is really important to participate in combat support exercises, for example, “Summer Shield”. Exercise “Sabre Strike” is on the way which gives soldiers an opportunity to train in international environment and where your JTACs will provide the units with close air support (CAS).

MSgt R. Boyer: One of the benefits of this cooperation from our, American, perspective is that also our JTACs are given an opportunity to work together with Latvian JTACs, especially when your men participate in an exercise in the US. It gives our younger soldiers an opportunity to find out how these things are organized in the NATO environment. It is a mutual benefit – we help your specialists here, in Latvia, while your JTACs can assist US JTACs in dealing with various issues by sharing the knowledge and experience which your JTACs have gained during various operations or training.

— What do you consider the most difficult part of a JTAC’s job?

Maj A. Rutkis: First of all, selection of suitable personnel is important. We need soldiers who are experienced in this field and who have acquired excellent individual skills in a task unit. Secondly, we have to be able to attract soldiers, who would be interested to go into this profession, so they could become good JTACs. In order to serve in our unit, a soldier has to have good English language skills, very good level of physical fitness, ability to work, gather and analyze large amount of information in a short period of time, as well as to be flexible, react quickly and take decisions in various non-standard and stressful situations. Only then we can begin their professional training. The training process and career planning for officers and NCOs, of course, differ. In the future, it has been planned to find personnel for this specialization among NCOs. We have to be flexible to perform our duties well and to achieve success. That is why such training is organized, and we pay serious attention to the quality of both theoretical part in classes and practical field training in training areas, and also when we participate in operations. So, we have to be able to adapt to changes, acquire extensive knowledge about everything – planning and execution, equipment and different devices. It is especially challenging nowadays when all technologies and procedures are changing so fast. We have to keep track of the changes; therefore we have to invest a lot of time in gaining more knowledge. It is not possible for one person to know it all; that is why it is important to divide areas of responsibility among members in the unit, so that each individual is an expert in his/ her field and, by putting all knowledge together, we would achieve the desired result.

Maj B. Ward: I would like to add to what was said about our cooperation. At the end of the summer Michigan National Guard is organizing another training “Northern Strike”, which will also be attended by soldiers from Latvia. Your soldiers’ contribution in this exercise will be their recently-gained experience in U.S. Army Europe-led international military training “Allied Spirit” in Germany. Latvian JTACs had another opportunity to work together with soldiers form the U.S. Army Europe and our marines during the exercise “Summer Shield”. During the exercise “Northern Strike” also the US Air force is involved in the cooperation. We will deploy to Latvia and provide our support in the exercise “Saber Strike”, whereas your JTACs will provide support in the exercise “Northern Strike” - so the cooperation occurs both ways. Your JTACs can offer our new JTACs a different perspective, i. e., they can suggest various solutions for the given tasks. That is why we are trying to ensure that there is an opportunity for soldiers from all US Armed forces to participate in the exercise along with your JTACS, which is really important. Returning to the initial question – the most complicated aspect of a JTAC’s profession and training is that every year you have to learn something completely new. And it cannot be compared with getting another update for your mobile phone’s operating system – these are cutting-edge devices and the way these devices work is absolutely different. Moreover, you always have to be prepared that the previous training location may be changed.

Maj A. Rutkis: A deployment for our specialists in international operations usually lasts from three to six months. For example, in the area of operation in Afghanistan a soldier gains operational experience. However, after his/her return it turns out that a lot of theoretical and practical things have changed. Therefore, sharing information and experience is extremely important.

— It has been suggested that the significance of JTACs in the future will decrease because of UAVs. What are your views on this?

Maj A. Sprauve: In my opinion, the designation “unmanned aerial vehicle” is not entirely accurate because there are a lot of people involved in ensuring its operation, the same as with piloted aircraft, for example, A-10s or others, in the control of which also your JTACs are involved. Someone has to ensure the operation of these aircraft, their interaction with JTACs, as well as direct communication with other aircraft.

MSgt R. Boyer: To my mind, JTACs will always be needed to ensure deconfliction among various types of aircraft, for indirect fire support and task elements. As soon as several aircraft are airborne, whether involved in a battle or just flying in the sky, accidents can occur if nobody controls these flights. The main task of JTACs is preventing such accidents from happening.

— It is really a great responsibility..

Maj A. Rutkis: Of course. Even though formally it is the responsibility of the respective unit’s commander, a JTAC gives advice and suggests a course of action. That is our main task to support the commander of the task unit in implementing his intent and task. Everyone who is involved in this process is co-responsible; however, in the majority of cases when everything is integrated to the slightest detail, JTAC has to be able to take on most of the responsibility.

— Among the military, I have heard an opinion that JTACs are a lot more than just soldiers. Do you agree with such a statement?

Maj A. Rutkis: I would rather link it with high requirements that we put forward for selecting the personnel, for training and maintaining our qualification. We have to be knowledgeable, experienced and capable of completing tasks, as well as take decisions in any complicated situation, because every mistake or a wrong decision can cause lethal consequences and international backlash.

Maj B. Ward: I am a US Air Force pilot who is assigned to the Army as an Air Force cooperation officer, and, in my opinion, a JTAC is a specialized land forces soldier. They could serve in another branch of the armed forces, as well – it does not matter. What matters is the knowledge and skills that only JTACs possess and that they can demonstrate during the battle. Even I sometimes don’t understand how they can maneuver along with the army, skillfully use the appliances and equipment in order to pass on the necessary information not only to the aircraft, but also to other soldiers on the ground.

Maj A. Rutkis: Without the support that Michigan National Guard has been providing since 2008, Latvian JTAC program would not be so successful. In establishment and development of the JTAC program a lot of work was done by the unit’s first commander and current program manager Lieutenant Colonel Edmunds Svencs, as well as the second commander of the unit Major Dans Jansons. Also soldiers who have served or still serve in the unit deserve words of praise, since without their contribution, devotion and the support of their families many of the things, mentioned earlier, would not have been achieved.

— I would like to return to the question about the unmanned aerial vehicles…

Maj B. Ward: This aircraft is not designed to have people aboard; however, while a UAV is airborne, several people observe it and work with it. Communication with such aircraft is the same as when we – JTACs – do it. The only difference is the following: my radio is in close proximity – it is called Line of Sight – for us to talk, for example, with the crew of the aircraft. But a UAV can go cross the Line of Sight and then the communication with it is maintained through satellites. The use of communication is practically identical.

Maj A. Sprauve: A UAV offers a constant, unique view on the battle field as its design allows it to be airborne for hours. Its flight can be controlled by several pilots. At the same time the sensor of such aircraft is always active. That is the reason why such aircraft are used, because the usual manned aircraft have a time limit regarding how long they can be airborne – one, two, three hours. After that manned aircraft has to land – that’s how they differ.

UAVs are another additional asset that the commander of the unit on the ground can use, involving JTACs.

— So, in your opinion, we will not be able to do without the involvement of military personnel in such operations and UAVs will not change anything in this field in the future?

Maj A. Sprauve: I don’t think there will be any changes regarding this.